Integral tray table personal electronic device holder and tray table

Abstract

A deployable device holder adapted to mount to a tray table to support a personal electronic device in a position apart from the tabletop surface of the tray table such that the tray table and electronic device holder can be used simultaneously. The device holder includes pairs of moveable support members and a cross member for effecting unison movement of the support members as the device holder moves between stowed and deployed positions thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tray table mountable device holder for a personal electronic device, comprising:
 first and second support members adapted to be rotatably or slidably disposed in respective openings along a back edge of a tray table; 
 first and second elevation members attached to respective ends of the first and second support members and moveable between a stowed position in alignment with a horizontal plane of the tray table and a deployed position extending upwardly above a top surface of the tray table; 
 a cross member extending between and connecting the first and second elevation members to effect unison rotational movement of the first and second elevation members between the stowed position and the deployed position; and 
 a plate attached to the cross member and extending upwardly above a top surface of the cross member; 
 wherein the first support member and the first elevation member are a unitary angled member, and the second support member and the second elevation member are a unitary angled member. 
 
     
     
       2. The device holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second elevation members are pivotally attached to respective opposing ends of the cross member. 
     
     
       3. The device holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second support members are spaced-apart and parallel, and the first and second elevation members are spaced-apart and parallel. 
     
     
       4. The device holder according to  claim 1 , wherein a length of the plate is less than a length of the cross member, and the plate is centered along the length of the cross member. 
     
     
       5. The device holder according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first support member, the second support member, the first elevation member, and the second elevation member is an elongate linear rod, and the cross member is an elongate linear plate. 
     
     
       6. The device holder according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the cross member and the plate comprises a friction-enhancing coating. 
     
     
       7. The device holder according to  claim 1 , wherein in the stowed position, the first elevation member, the second elevation member, and the cross member all align in a common horizontal plane. 
     
     
       8. The device holder according to  claim 1 , wherein in the deployed position, the first and second elevation members are parallel to each other and at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the cross member. 
     
     
       9. The device holder according to  claim 1 , wherein in the stowed position, the plate is adapted to extend above the top surface of the tray table. 
     
     
       10. A tray table adapted to hold a personal electronic device, comprising:
 a first table segment having a tabletop and a pair of spaced openings along one edge, and a second table segment hinged along one edge to the first table segment such that the second table segment can fold onto the first table segment; and 
 a device holder configured to hold the personal electronic device apart from the tabletop, the device holder comprising:
 first and second support members adapted to be rotatably or slidably disposed in respective ones of the spaced openings; 
 first and second elevation members attached to respective ends of the first and second support members and moveable between a stowed position in alignment with a horizontal plane of the tray table and a deployed position extending upwardly above the tabletop; 
 a cross member extending between and connecting the first and second elevation members to effect unison rotational movement of the first and second elevation members between the stowed position and the deployed position; and 
 a plate attached to the cross member and extending upwardly above a top surface of the cross member. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The tray table according to  claim 10 , wherein the first and second elevation members are pivotally attached to respective opposing ends of the cross member. 
     
     
       12. The tray table according to  claim 10 , wherein the first and second support members are spaced-apart and parallel, and the first and second elevation members are spaced-apart and parallel. 
     
     
       13. The tray table according to  claim 10 , wherein the first support member and the first elevation member are a unitary angled member, and the second support member and the second elevation member are a unitary angled member. 
     
     
       14. The tray table according to  claim 10 , wherein a length of the plate is less than a length of the cross member, and the plate is centered along the length of the cross member. 
     
     
       15. The tray table according to  claim 10 , wherein each of the first support member, the second support member, the first elevation member, and the second elevation member is an elongate linear rod, and the cross member is an elongate linear plate. 
     
     
       16. The tray table according to  claim 10 , wherein in the stowed position, the first elevation member, the second elevation member, and the cross member all align in a common horizontal plane. 
     
     
       17. The tray table according to  claim 10 , wherein in the deployed position, the first and second elevation members are parallel to each other and at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the cross member. 
     
     
       18. The tray table according to  claim 10 , wherein in the stowed position of the device holder, the plate extends above the tabletop.